---
title: "Drone Attacks Commercial Vessel in Romanian Territorial Waters"
description: "A drone struck a Palau-flagged vessel in Romanian territorial waters. There are no casualties, and a cargo crane was damaged."
date: 2026-11-14T18:41:18.303Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/drone-attacks-vessel-romanian-waters
tags: [romania, black-sea, drone-attack, shipping, palau-flag, ukraine]
author: "Roman V."
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Drone Attacks Commercial Vessel in Romanian Territorial Waters

## Key Points

- A drone attacked the Palau-flagged vessel Larissa 1 in Romanian territorial waters.
- The incident took place 12 km north of Sfântu Gheorghe with no casualties or fire reported.
- Romanian Defense Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea confirmed the attack and ongoing investigation.
- The EU will allocate 50 million euros to establish the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub.

In the territorial waters of Romania, approximately 12 kilometers north of the town of Sfântu Gheorghe, a drone struck a commercial vessel flying the Palau flag. The incident occurred in the evening, around 21:40 on Friday, as the ship was heading towards Ukrainian ports via Sulina. The drone strike resulted in no casualties or injuries among the crew members, and no fire broke out on board following the impact.

### Incident Details and Extent of Damage

According to preliminary reports from the scene, the attacked vessel Larissa 1 sustained localized infrastructure damage. Industry specialists estimate that the drone strike hit the cargo crane used for loading and unloading operations. The rest of the ship's compartments and systems remained intact, averting a critical failure or ecological crisis in the Black Sea waters.

### Romanian Authorities' Reaction and Official Statements

Romanian Defense Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea confirmed the attack on the vessel during his visit to the military port of Constanța on Saturday. The defense chief noted that specialized services are continuing a detailed investigation into the incident and gathering all necessary information. Oprea also emphasized that air raid alerts had been declared in Tulcea County on Friday due to approaching objects.

### Regional Security and Response Measures

The Black Sea region faces escalating risks to commercial shipping, compelling coastal states to strengthen coordination. In late October, the defense ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey condemned recent attacks on civilian vessels and agreed to establish a security coordination mechanism. An additional protection tool will be the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, for which the European Union will allocate 50 million euros.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Дрон атаковал коммерческое судно в территориальных водах Румынии](https://rus.err.ee/1610196424/dron-atakoval-kommercheskoe-sudno-v-territorialnyh-vodah-rumynii) - Primary source detailing the drone attack on the commercial vessel.
- [Дрон атаковал коммерческое судно в территориальных водах Румынии](https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/rus/news/2026/11/14/7250000/) - Confirmation of the incident involving the Larissa 1 vessel.
- [Неизвестный дрон атаковал грузовое судно у берегов Румынии](https://news.zerkalo.io/europe/140524.html) - Report on the unknown drone attacking a cargo ship near Romania.
- [Дрон атаковал судно у румынского побережья Чёрного моря](https://intent.press/ru/news/war/2026/dron-atakoval-sudno-u-rumynskogo-poberezhia-chernogo-moria/) - Details on the Palau-flagged vessel heading to Ukraine.

## FAQ

### What vessel was attacked by the drone in Romania?

The commercial vessel Larissa 1, flying the Palau flag and heading to Ukraine, was attacked.

### Were there any casualties from the incident?

No, none of the crew members were injured, and no fire broke out.